I made my first visit to the Dorset County Ground, which was very close to where I was staying in Bournemouth, to watch a Dorset Senior Cup fixture between Hamworthy United of the Wessex League Division 1 and Shaftesbury FC, of the Southern League South Division. The evening was clear but cold, with temperatures falling to nine degrees.

Hamworthy United’s Dorset County Ground holds 2000 and was opened in 1950, with a grandstand being built just 6 years later by Stanley Rous. The grandstand was condemned in 2023 and the resulting financial burden of attempting to rebuild this whilst trying to groundshare with Weymouth, led to the club withdrawing from the Southern League in 2023. A new 150 seater grandstand has been built and opened in 2024 with great backing and effort from Steve Mitchener, club Chairman. The modern 3G pitch with powerful floodlighting, rounds off this simple but impressive ground.

Hamworthy United have had a positive start to the season, sitting in the final (fifth place) play off spot, with nine wins, one draw and five defeats from their opening fifteen games. Goals have flowed from the boots of George Rowe (17 goals), George Deem (6 goals), Finaly West and Neemo Nixon (both 4 goals). Manager Dan Cann would have been hopeful his side had the fire power to beat higher league opposition tonight.

Shaftesbury FC come into today’s game sitting sixteenth and just above the relegation places in the Southern League South Division. Shaftesbury have won four, drawn three and lost eight of their fifteen matches, conceding 24 goals whilst scoring just 19, although a 3-5 away win at Did it Town in their last league match would have lifted the team’s confidence. Goals have come from Remus Nixon (4 goals), Cam Beard and Harry McGrath (both 3 goals). Manager Patrick McManus would have been keen to lift the season with a good cup run.

The opening half was evenly fought, but on the stroke of 40 minutes Josh Malpas broke on the right for Hamworthy United and fed the perfect pass into the path of centre forward, Bailey Rowe, who finished confidently to give the home side the lead.

Bailey Rowe fired narrowly wide when through on goal on the stroke of half-time, however at the break the sides went in with Hamworthy United holding a narrow one goal lead. It did feel a little as if Hamworthy United, some two leagues below their rivals, needed to take the chance to establish a two goal lead against Shaftesbury FC, while they had the upper hand. The failure to do so could come back to haunt them.

Shaftesbury FC began the second half with a new found confidence and positivity. On 68 minutes Shaftesbury FC were level, when Brett Pitman headed home for the away side to make it 1-1, following a cross from Remus Nixon.

As the half progressed Shaftesbury FC came more and more into the game, having a clear cut chance saved and a shot cleared off the line. Hamworthy United had some good counter attacking chances, but a sense of inevitability overtook the proceedings.

With eight minutes left a corner from the right was well dispatched by Remus Nixon, as the ball fell to him after a scramble in the six yard box, to put the visitors 1-2 ahead.

Shaftesbury FC then showed their class by managing the game upto the full-time whistle, allowing Hanworthy United little in the way of opportunities to claw their way back into the game. It was the visitors who progress into the next round after an entertaining evening’s football.